Southernd Pier Easter Egg Hunt

On Easter Bank Holiday Monday we were in two minds whether to actually bother leaving the house as the forecast was rain all day. But surprisingly once breakfast was out of the way it actually looked OK outside, albeit a little overcast. So we decided to take the kids to Southend Pier for yet another Easter Egg hunt. We have been promising them that they could go on the train to the end of the pier for some time now so this seemed the perfect excuse.

So we jumped aboard the Sir John Betjeman train and chugged down the 1.33 miles to the end of the pier. I think it must be well over 20 years since I have been to the end of the pier myself and a lot has changed – but I guess that’s a result of it burning down 4 times! I had no idea that there was a Jamie Oliver restaurant on the pier along with loads of very colourfully painted beach huts. We also got to see the RNLI lifeboats and a large Dutch sailboat which had anchored up at the end of the pier.

The Easter Hunt was pretty cool and the kids had 10 eggs hidden all over the pier to find which referenced wildlife that you can see from the pier. As a reward they received a certificate and a Cadbury’s Cream Egg (not bad for £2 each). After the Easter Egg Hunt we had a picnic inside whilst the kiddies (and adults) all did an Easter colouring competition. Brandon absolutely nailed his Easter Chick / Egg picture by using the RNLI them and colours – surely he is on to a winner with this.

We arrived at the right time for the train as when we came back the queue was huge.

Holly enjoying the weird concept of travelling by train over the sea.

At the end of the pier and the Easter Hunt begins.

Congratulations on reaching the 1.33 mile end of the pier (oh and finding the first Easter Egg just above Brandon's head)|.

Not too many people ventured out in the morning. Notice the Dutch sailboat anchored up as well.

Another Easter Egg found on the buoy.

We visited the RNLI at the end of the pier where I was ended up spending some of my hard earnt money on toot for the kids in the shop (still I guess its a good cause).

Loads of little birds camped up on part of the pier.

Holly was gutted as none of thew ride-ons seemed to work (maybe they hadn't been converted to the new £1 coins).

Joshua and Brandon actually struggled to find all 10. This wasn't as easy as the other Easter Hunts we have done.

Holly and Josh by one of the colourful beach huts.

Holly liked the rainbow and sparkly gold on this one.

Quick family picture at the end of the pier.

Warming up with a picnic and some colouring inside.

Brandon submitting our entries to the competition wall.

Brandon's rather clever RNLI themed Easter colouring.

Joshua's was neatly done and the colours went well together.

Like Brandon by colouring was themed (Southend United FC) in hope of getting a few extra votes. Not sure 45 year old men are allowed to enter the kids Easter colouring competition!

More colourfully painted beach huts on the pier.

And at the end of a fun afternoon it was time to catch our train back again.